Vacuum-cup bicycle-pedal



(No Model.)

' E. T. HARRIS 821A. S. REED.

VACUUM 0UP BICYCLE PEDAL.

No. 554,686. Patented Feb 18;

Nr'rnn TATES ,ATENT OFFICE,

ELIJAH T. HARRIS AND ALBERT S. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VACUUM-CUP BICYCLE-PEDAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,686, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed July 24, 1895.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELIJ AH T. HARRIS and ALBERT S. REED,citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vacuum-Cup Bicycle-Pedals, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a vacuum-cup for bicycle-pedals, its object being to provide improved means for efiectively maintaining the foot of the rider upon the pedal.

It is well known that when riding at a high speed, particularly when racing, great difficulty is experienced in maintaining the foot upon the pedal, the tendency being to throw the foot away from the pedal, due to the rapid rotation of the pedal. It has been proposed heretofore to provide toe-clips mounted upon the pedal and adapted to grasp the foot of the rider to prevent its leaving the pedal, but the foot often slips from the toe-clip and is thrown from the pedal, and in consequence it has been the custom for racers to tie their feet to the pedals in order to insure their remaining upon the pedals while going at very high speeds.

In accordance with our invention we provide upon the pedal a vacuum-cup upon which the foot of the rider is adapted to rest, the foot being firmly pressed down upon the vacuu m-eup, whereby a vacuum is formed within the cup, so that the atmospheric pressure upon the foot maintains it firmly in position upon the vacuum-cup. WVhen it is desired to remove the foot from the vacuum-cup the foot may be given a slight shifting movement, thus permitting access of the air to the interior of the cup and allowing the removal of the foot. WVe have found that with shoes provided with leather soles best results cannot be attained, and we therefore provide upon the sole a metal plate of sufficient size to cover the mouth of the vacuum-cup when the foot is placed in position. A smooth rubber sole may be employed, but not with as good results as a smooth metallic plate.

We will describe our invention more in par- Serial No. 557,015. (No model.)

ticular by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a bicycle-pedal embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the vacuum-cups, showing the foot of the rider in position.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

We have illustrated our invention in connection with a'specific form of pedal, but it is equally applicable to any other form, as may be found desirable.

Upon the crank a is mounted the bar or rod 1), upon which sleeve c is mounted to rotate, ball-bearings being provided between the sleeve and the rod to reduce friction to a minimum. Upon opposite sides of the sleeve 0 are mounted plates d cl, carrying upon their ends plates 01 d, provided with upwardly-extending ends (1 d adapted to limit the transverse movement of the foot when on the pedal. Upon the plates 01 d are screwed the vacuumcups 6 e by means of screws 6 e passing through the bottom of the cup and screwing into the plate d, the screws being securely pressed down upon the bottom of the cup so as to prevent the passage of air through the bottom of the cup. By the removal of the screw 6 the cup may be readily removed from the pedal and the pedal employed as, an ordinary metallic pedal. The cup we preferably form of rubber of a cross-section corresponding to that of the figure. When the foot is placed upon the pedal the edges of the cup are pressed downward and air is thus expelled from within the cup, the metallic plate f,which we preferably provide upon the sole of the riders shoe, making close contact with the edges of the cup to prevent the entrance of air. The foot is thus firmly held upon the pedal and will not fly off from the pedal even when riding at the highest speed.

The vacuum-cup may be adjusted to any desired pressure, so that the foot may be held thereto with a greater or less force as may be desired.

When it is desired to withdraw the foot it may be readily done by giving to the foot a quick shifting movement, which knack will soon be acquired by the rider, so that, though the foot be normally held upon the vacuumeup with a pressure of something like thirty pounds, it may be readily withdrawn at will without excessive exertion.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a bicycle-pedal, of a vacuum-cup provided thereon, adapted to be engaged by the foot of the rider; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bicycle-pedal, of a vacuum-cup provided thereon and a plate provided upon the shoe of the rider adapted to engage and seal the mouth of the vacuumcup; substantially as described.

The combination with a bicycle-pedal, of a vaeuum-eup detachably mounted thereon, whereby the vacuum-cup may be removed from the pedal at will; substantially as described.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 22d day of July, A. D. 1895.

ELIJAII T. HARRIS. ALBERT S. REED. Vitnesses;

JOHN XV. SINCLAIR, W. CLYDE JONES. 

